Muslims in the Philippines led by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) will scan the horizons Tuesday night for the new crescent moon that will determine the first day of the month-long fasting during Islam's arduous Ramadan season.

Sighting the crescent that ushers in a new month in the lunar-based Hijrah calendar of the Islamic world is a practice of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Allaihi Wassalam based on the Holy Qur'an.

As-Sawm (fasting) during Ramadan, ninth month in the Hijrah, is the fourth main obligations of Muslims, including recitation of Shahaddah, Salah (five-daily prayers), Zakat (charity), and Hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
 
NCMF Secretary Bai Omera D. Dianalan-Lucman said she formed the National Moon-sighting Committee (NMC) with some ulama (religious leaders) and NCMF officials “for purposes of obtaining accurate information, and in compliance with religious injunction on the need to observe the appearance of the new moon for the start and end of Ramadan fast.

She said NCMF regional offices in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao were also ordered to coordinate with the Central Office on the results of the moon-sighting.

Religious groups such as the Imam Council of the Philippines, Inc. (IMCI), Organization of Islamic Leaders Conference (OICLP), among others, are also involved in the activity.

IMCI chair Aleem Said Ahmad Basher cited the importance of adhering to the Sunnah (Traditions) of Islam's prophet.

“In our effort tonight to look for the Ramadan crescent, we will be able to determine the first day of fasting. If we see it, then fasting starts Wednesday (August 11). If not, then Sha'ban will be 30 days and first day of Ramadan will be on Thursday (August 12),” said Basher.

In anticipation of Ramadan, lawyer Jamel Tabao Mamutuk in his Facebook entry has started a countdown towards the advent of  fasting, when adult, physically fit and sane Muslims – man or woman – completely abstain from food, drink, smoking and other sensual pleasures from sunrise to sunset.

Even non-Muslims on Facebook, like Paolo Paddeu, and others have wished their Muslim friends a “Happy Ramadan.”

Text messages have also been going around, with greetings and prayers for a blessed month of worship.

Near the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila, restaurants such as “Pamanganan” which serves Malaysian halal cuisine will are now preparing for Ramadan.

Restaurants will be closed in the morning and open in the late afternoon until the time for “shuhoor” (pre-dawn breakfast), start time for the fast. Those who are fasting will break their fast at sunset, also the time for Maghreb, the fourth of the five-daily prayers.